Another inevitable Indian picture Photo

Photographer’s Note

One of the oldest clichés about India is that cows are roaming freely in the streets. Well, they do. The cliché is true and any visitor soon gets used to it and find it fairly normal. Yet I have a feeling that there are relatively few pictures on TE showing cows in city streets, as if most photographers feel embarassed to show such a cliché.
I take the bull by the horns by showing this calf resting peacefully in a street of Tezpur town, Assam state.
The title refers to an earlier picture of another Indian cliché, a snake-charmer.

saxo042, rjb874, fanni, dareco, Kielia, qpochet, PixelTerror has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

envisage (191) 2009-04-15 8:19

Hi Gert,

Thanks for this picture. It is true that India somehow makes space for everyone and we adapt to it. Not to say that it is a good thing always but certainly quite unique. :) I agree with the existence of clichés but India is diverse and there are so many variations. You have the most low and run down stuff, the most versatile heritage and then the most hitec as well. That's India to me :)

Thanks for sharing this.

Sreya

rey316 (1900) 2009-04-15 8:24

Hi Gert
An interesting snapshot of daily life.
Interesting transportation. These animals are on the road, why not?
What's he doing in town? Where the owner of an animal?
Regards
Andrey

saxo042 (15102) 2009-04-15 9:16

Hej Gert,
This picture gives quite a chaotic impression, at least to me. Definitely a lot of interesting and colourful details, maybe a bit too many... Those cable across the street don´t really improve the beauty of this town. But I guess this must be a typical photo of daily life here.
Definitely very interesting!
Hälsningar
Gunnar

jasmis (49633) 2009-04-15 9:36

India - the country of contrasts. You has shown it very well here.
Amazing presentation.
Regards.

scalerman (25619) 2009-04-15 12:00

Gert: I'll agree with your rendition of typical traffic-scapes of India. Finely caught motion and a well developed theme. congrats. c

nirvana73 (8474) 2009-04-15 12:29

Hello Gert
very interesting shot
very impressive daily scebe from India
i like colors and presentation
thanks for sharing and explanations
best regards
Ozhan

rjb874 (595) 2009-04-15 13:37

Sterotypical India ... but hey what is wrong with that!

The cow on the road makes the photo, the modern cars behind add a more contemporary feel, overall I find it visually appealing. Well done.

npecanhuk (13027) 2009-04-15 13:39

Hi Gert!
Typical local daily life is a great subject and one of the main aims of TE! So, I do enjoy - as a TE member - to see such pictures in here!
This one is superb, with great sharpness, excellent exposure, perfect timing, pov and composition!
TFS - Congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

SteveH (3857) 2009-04-15 15:37

HI Gert, interesting to see that whilst some of the road users have changed (modern cars!) since I was there others remain, rickshaws and the inevitable cows. This image captures well the sort of vista to be found in most Indian towns and cities. cheers, steve

fanni (8711) 2009-04-16 14:34

Hej Gert,
I am always sure that even clichés are photographed very differently: it depends on the fact in whose hands the camera is. We all see the same things differently!
The cow lying on the road may very well be a cliché; but a cow + very colourful and exotic (to me) surroundings, especially taken from this POV, is already not a cliché :) SO many interesting things in one very well composed shot!

Ha en trevlig helg!
kindest regards,
Elena

dareco (17024) 2009-04-16 19:32

Very interesting daily life capture!! Very nice detail and so much packed into this one picture. TFS

kschanna (2596) 2009-04-17 5:16

One cannot miss the Holy Gao Mata (cow mother) relaxing amidst the chaos of what is life in India. This is a fine composition showing people's respect in its full glory for this humble creature.

Thanks for sharing
Kamran

pastadog (12821) 2009-04-18 0:11

Excellent light here, Gert, and a compo showing a few aspects of daily life there, and not just the cow. Maybe I'd crop the street area a little bit from the bottom... (I did post one of a cow in India, actually a bull)... Regards, Daniel

Kielia (8183) 2009-04-20 10:27

Hej Gert,
what a view on this busy street! The cow is acting the only appropriate way: just relaxing. You have captured this great scene from an excellent POV. TFS!
BTW: Have you visited the gallery of Henk (Oochappan)? There are a lot of similiar scenes.
Warm regards
Harriet

qpochet (1378) 2009-04-23 11:28

Hi Gert,

Obviously a typical daily life scenery from India. Nice composition, full of colours (like India itself) and it reminds me I was attacked buy one of those "quiet" holy cows in Varanasi, no harm done fortunately :)
Nice job
Quentin.

PixelTerror (86026) 2009-04-27 10:16

Hi Gert
It's quite an overloaded and bit chaotic street scene, the cow looks very small relative to the people, like a big dog, well mastered exposure but the sky areas are a bit noisy,.
Have a nice day JY